Mailbox receiving door



Patented July 2, 1946 UNIVTEDVSTLTES ENT" OFFEE MAILBOX REGEIVING DOOR Fred Harry Shetler, Canton, Ohio Application April 29, 1938, Serial No. 204,950 1 Claim. (C1. 23245) This invention relates to improvements in mailbox reeeiving doors, and the object of this device is to provide the general public with a convenient and simple method of depositing lettere.

Another object is to provide means for automaticclosing of door-flaps upon letter deposit.

A further object is to provicle means for depositng letters with one hand, leaving the other hand free to carry packages etc.

Still another object is to provide means for the depositing of letters withoutmutilating same.

Referring to the drawing orming part hereof,

Fig. 1 is a view in perspectivebf a mailbox embodying rny invention.

Fig. 2 is a front plan view of Fig. 1, showinging door-flaps and their motivating mechanism,.

and the construction of the discharge door.-

Referring to the -di&Wing in detail, the body portion of the mailbox is shown at I, the said body having a curved top portion as shown at 2, and an elliptical opening or paper receptacle at 3. The upper front portion of the mailbox has a longitudinal opening at 4, and a combination of ooordinating upper and lower door-flaps at 5 and at 6 pivotally mounted to the interior front wall to close said opening, as shown at 1 and at 8, and at 13 and l i in Figs. 2 and 3.

The lower exterior central portion of the upper doorflap 5 has a cylindrical finger-tipbar integral therewith at H14, the said bar serving as a finger-tip rest for persons desiring to push open the said door-flap for letter deposits. The

lower interior portion of said door-flap overlaps the upper exterior portion of the lower doori'iap 6 to prevent rain from entering into the box through the said lower door-flap, the said lower door-flap having extended side portions as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

When said upper and lower door-flaps are in open positon, the lower horzontal portion of the upper door-flap touches the upper end portions of the said extended side portions of the lower door-flap, forming a longitudinal opening between said door-flaps for letter deposits, the

lower porton of said lower door-flap having a fianged angular ledge extending exteriorly of the box, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The said ledge prevents rain from entering into the said box.

The interior side portion of the door-flap 5 has a weighted arm 9 attached thereto at ZI,

as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The interior side portion of the doof-flap 6 has a flange attached thereto at H, a connecting link at I2 pivotally attached to said flange and to said upper door-flap weighted arm, the said connecting link providing coordination of movement for said upper and lower door-flaps.

It is customary to held letters in between the thumb andfingers in attempting to deposit them, and in the present instanee, when the said upper door-flap is pushed inward. by the fingers holding the said letters, the weighted arm of said door-flap automatically pulls the conneoting link backward and the said lower door-flap inward, this inward movement of the said doorflaps exposes the longitudinal opening in between the extended side portionsof the lower door-flap. The said connecting link limits the width of said opening between the lower horizontal portion of the upper door-flap and the upper horizontal portion of the lower door-flap. The

thumb and the fingers smply release the said letters and they drop through the said opening into the box without mutilating same.

The said weighted arm automatically closes the said door-flaps after finger pressure is removed from said upper door-flap.

The lower front obtuse portion of the box is provided with a longitudinal opening at [5, the top portion of said opening having an inturned angular ledge at H3 which is provided with a slot for bolt engagement of a door look. The

said opening is provided with a diseharge door at l, the lower interior portion of the said door being pivotally nounted to the lower interior front portion of the box at 26 and at 2I. The side portions l9 of said door are flanged inwardly to keep deposited mail upon said door and to provide pivotal support for said door, as shown at 20 in Fig. 3. The bottom portion of said door is angleol inwardly and upwardly at 22, the said angled portion forcing mail to slide forward upon the door when said door is openeol for the discharge of mail. The upper center portiori of: said door is provided with a look at B8, the said look engaging the slot of said inturned angular ledge.

While it is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention w1l be readly apparent, I desre 130 have t understood that I do not limit myself to the details of construction herein shown and descrbed and that such changes may be resorted. to when desired. as fa1l wthn the scope of what is clamed.

I claim:

In a, mailbox having a longitudinal opening in the upper front portion thereof, the combnation of coordinatng upper and lower door-fiaps pivota1ly mounted to the nterior front wa11 to c101se saidnpenng, the interor side portion of the upper door-flap having a weighted arm attached. thereto, the lower exterior central portion of said upper door-flap having a. cylindrical finger-tip bar integral therewth, the lower porton of sa.d lower door-flap having a flanged. angular ledge extending exterorly of the box, and a flange a.ttached to the interior side portion of said lower door-flap, the said flange and the upper door-flap weghted arm havng a connecting link pi votally attached thereto, for the purpose 10 described.

FRED HARRY SHETLER. 

